Vanderbilt v. Vanderbilt

After the couple separated in California and Patricia (plaintiff) moved to New York, Cornelius (defendant) obtained a Nevada divorce decree without ever serving Patricia with process there or securing her appearance; Patricia, unaware of the Nevada proceeding, later sought separation and alimony in New York, where the court sequestered Cornelius's New York property to secure any alimony award despite lacking personal jurisdiction over him. Cornelius argued the Full Faith and Credit Clause required New York to recognize the Nevada divorce as dissolving the marriage and thus any alimony claim tied to it; the New York court agreed the marriage was dissolved but still ordered Cornelius to pay alimony, and he appealed.